SHIRE PLC - Elections for interim dividend

ELECTIONS FOR INTERIM DIVIDEND IN RESPECT OF THE SIX MONTHS TO JUNE 30, 2009

September 1, 2009 - Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty
biopharmaceutical company, announced on August 5, 2009 an interim dividend of
2.147 US cents per Ordinary share payable on October 8, 2009 to shareholders on
the register of members at the close of business on September 11, 2009.

Shareholders are reminded that the final date for submission of elections to
receive UK sourced dividends via the Income Access Share arrangements
is September 11, 2009.

In the absence of any such elections, previous elections or deemed
elections will remain in force.

Shareholders who do not elect (or have not been deemed to elect) to receive
UK sourced dividends through the Income Access Share arrangements are reminded
that their dividends will be Irish sourced and subject to Irish dividend
withholding tax unless the Company's Registrars are in possession of a valid
exemption form by September 11, 2009. Exemption forms may be submitted by fax
to + 44 (0) 1903 854 289.

Enquiries may be addressed to the Company Registrars' Dividend Planning Team
on + 44 (0) 1903 854 183.

Tony Guthrie
Deputy Company Secretary

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations  Clea Rosenfeld (Rest of the World)       +44 1256 894 160

                    Eric Rojas (North America)               +1 617 551 9715

Notes to editors

SHIRE PLC

Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical
company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire
focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human
genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as
opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through
acquisitions. Shire's in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused
on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection
and global rights. Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced
portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale
sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website:
www.shire.com.

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Registered in Jersey, No. 99854, 22 Grenville Street, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8PX

Press Release

www.shire.com




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